This political reality holds a variety of consequences in store, but since we’re focused on guns here, let’s consider what the next steps should be in the protection of gun rights and the expansion of their exercise.

Then come regulations of the ATF. Trump has promised to gut the Environmental Protection Agency, despite the necessary function of that part of the government. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is a clumsy collection of things that have in many cases only the vaguest relationship to each other — beyond being objectionable to various people and easy subjects for those who like to meddle. If we must defund any department of the government, the one that should — as the joke goes — be a convenience store is an obvious choice.

I’ve routinely reminded the junior senator from my state, Tom Cotton, that he ran on protecting gun rights, so far to little effect, since I’m one person. This election looks like a victory for gun rights, but that will be true only if each one of us drives the message home day after day with our representatives in government. It’s only with this kind of vigilance that we will win.

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of Guns.com.